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119-s-160119th CongressWALLET

Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]

Became Law

Summary

Reauthorizes the Department of Defense to sell excess aircraft and parts for wildfire suppression. The law limits those sales to supporting aircraft services for fighting fires, adds permission to deliver water as well as fire retardant, and sets the authority to end on October 1, 2035.

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  • Firefighting agencies and communities will have expanded access to surplus aircraft and parts for suppression services. Allowing water drops as well as retardant gives crews more tactical options during large fires.
  • The Department of Defense gains a defined, time-limited process to dispose of excess aircraft and related parts specifically for wildfire missions. The law updates internal legal references and ties the program to a fixed period instead of an open-ended authority.
  • International wildfire response can now be supported under this program because the law removes the prior restriction on providing international suppression assistance with purchased aircraft.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Aerial firefighting authority through 2035

The law lets the Defense Department sell aircraft and parts to support wildfire fighting. The authority runs from enactment to October 1, 2035. Items sold can be used only to provide aircraft services for wildfire suppression. The law also allows those aircraft to use water as well as fire retardant.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]

MT • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2025

  • Rep. Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK-2]

    OK • R

    Sponsored 2/3/2025

  • Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 2/3/2025

  • Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 2/19/2025

  • Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]

    ID • R

    Sponsored 3/6/2025

  • Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]

    ID • R

    Sponsored 3/6/2025

  • Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/1/2025

  • Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 4/2/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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